Improvement in combined table and life-preserver



H. M. GREEN. Combined Table and Life-Preserver.

Patented Oct. 1,1878

MPEIERS, PHOTOLITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. GREEN, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED TABLE AND LIFE-PRESERVER.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 208,473, dated October 1, 1878; application filed February 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. GREEN, of the city and county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ships Tables and Life-Preservers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanyin g drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly sectional, of the table embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is an end view, partly sectional.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to improvements in combined ships tables and life-preservers.

It consists of a floating table-body provided with water-tight lockers.

It also consists in providing the legs of the floating table with guard-rounds and lash- 1n gs.

It further consists of the combination of parts to form an improvement in ships tables for the purposes of the dining-saloon, chartholding, and life-preserving.

Referring to the drawings, Arepresents the body of the table, which is air and water tight, and it is supported on legs a.

On the upper face or portion of the bodyA there are secured or formed longitudinally-extending ways B, in which are fitted removable slides 0, having attached to them leaves D, which thus open and close in opposite directions, so that the top of the table may consist of the two leaves D, in a folded state; or said leaves may be separated, and one or more extra leaves, D, applied between them, after the manner of extension-tables.

'When the leaves D are extended they are supported by legs D at the outer end thereof, and when the leaves are closed said legs fold against the relative sides of the body A of the table, the slides 0 moving into the space of the body.

The upper face of the leaves D D have strips f near their outer edges, for confining the dishes, 810., when placed on the table, and both faces of the central leaf or leaves, D, have strips f, which are adapted to embrace the upper end of the sides of the body A, for

holding the said leaf or leaves D firmly to the body and preventing shifting thereof.

One set of strips, f, has openings f, ex tending in the direction of the length of the same, so that throats are formed in said strips, through which may be passed the ships charts, which will be rested on the central leaf or leaves, and they are thus nicely held for purposes of examination. By reversing said leaf or leaves and properly locating them the other face will again serve for dining and other purposes, the chart being held underneath in the throats f, the strips which are provided with the throats then serving to embrace the body A and retain the central leaf or leaves in position, said leaves also being adapted to be placed on the floor or elsewhere for examination of the charts, when it is not desired to make such examination on the table.

In the upper portion of the body A there are apartments or lockers F, which are covered by lids h and held by bars or fastenin gs 7;, the joints of the lockers and lids being tightly packed with rubber or other suitable material, in order to prevent the entrance of water into the lockers.

The legs a are connected by rounds m, and on the same are fitted lashings H, of which a large number may be employed, if desired.

It is evident that the table is available for dining purposes, as is usual, and'it may be extended by applying the leaf D.

In the event of a wreck the leaves D D are removed and the table is thrown overboard, the instruments, papers, books, 850., being previously safely stowed in the water-tight lockers F. The body A, owing to its buoyancy, now becomes a life-preserver, and floats with the legs auppermost, the rounds mserving as guards, and the lashings H providing means by which the people may readily hold themselves to the floating body A, the advantages whereof are evident.

I am aware that life-preservers have been constructed in many different modes, and that articles of furniture have been used for such purposes; and I am also aware that Watertight compartments, extension-tables, and detachable leaves are not new, and I therefore do not claim the same 5 but,

Having described my invention, What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The floating; table-body A, provided with the Water-tight lockers F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The floating table-body A, with legs a, in combination with the guard-rods m and lashings H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

3. The table-body A, provided with the removable leaves D, and the extension-leaves D, haying embracing-strips f, formed with throats f, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combined table and life-preserver, the same consisting of the floating body A, removable leaves 1), lockers F, guard-rounds m, and lashings H, combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

H. M. GREEN.

Vitnesses JOHN A. WIEDEnsHEiM, A. P. GRANT. 

